Baggage.



PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

J. J. SMITH.

BAGGAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2.1905.

SPECIMENS.

JrJhnJamesSmiIh.

NITE S'rarns Patented May 16, 1905.

JOHN JAMES SMITH, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES H. WVARDXVELL, TRUSTEE, OF NEWTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

BAGGAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,764, dated May 16, 1905.

Application filed February 2, 1905. Serial No. 243,900. Specimens) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OI-IN JAMES SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baggage, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to receptacles for the transportation of goods, as valises, cases, trunks, bags, &c., that type known as the dress-suit case being described and illustrated as the specific form disclosed herein.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a case of minimum weight and of a strength and durability sufficient to withstand rough usage as well as the exposure to which baggage is subjected when checked for transportation. To provide such an article, I have discovered a certain covering material which may be combined with a framework of cheap though durable construction, which will be more fully described hereinafter This covering material is a closely-woven fabric of the dried stems of the organ sari/m, which form a porous straw. When wet, this straw swells into a tough fiber, resisting further moisture, and when woven into the fabric makes a surface which is practically waterproof. This fabric is light in weight and cool and attractive in appearance and is admirably adapted for light weight valises, summer goods, and trunks for foreign travel.

In the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a view of a case, and Fig. 2 is a view of the frame and covering.

A is a four-sided frame of light wood forming the body of the case and having on its upper edge a bevel a.

B is a frame for the top member, oppositely beveled at b. The formation of these frames is substantially the same, so that the description of the construction of the frame A (shown in Fig. 2) will suffice. To the bottom of this frame is applied a sheet of fiber board C, which is bent up over the edge of the frame A and securely fastened thereto.

D is a covering of closely-woven oryza satz'oa straw cut in a blank having flaps which are long enough to cover the sides of the a frame on the outside and then be turned in to cover the inside, thus making a complete surface of this fabric. The covering material is smoothly drawn over the body of the case and evenly glued thereto throughout its entire surface. The corners and edges are bound with protecting leather strips E, which are securely fastened in place, and the two members of the case are suitably hinged together and provided with the necessary fastenings.

The interior retaining-straps F, which are riveted to the edges of the frame, serve the usual function. These straps in one of the members, however, are continued from the rivet nearest the hinge and brought across and riveted to the frame of the other member. This section of strap is of just suflicient length to allow the members to swing to an open position and be retained there.

The case thus made is neat and attractive in appearance, the covering material being handsome as well as strong and durable and with its moisture-excluding properties makes it practically a waterproof article. In this connection the bevels a and b cooperate to make a tight joint between the parts and prevent the entry of moisture along this line.

The fiber bottom C of the frame will give sufficiently to increase the capacity of the case in an emergency, and the covering fabric will also yield to a corresponding degree. In this the o ryza erotica fabric as in the features of wear and weather makes a most satisfactory covering. It thus affords the possibilities of a cheap though perfectly satisfactory internal structure and being itself a cheap article meets fully the demands of the trade.

What I therefore claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame of a covering fabric of org 2a sat Zea straw.

2. A covering for articles of the class described consisting of a closely-woven fabric of oryza sat loco straw.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination of abody-frame of wood, having a fiber-board bottom and a covering of 0111 20 satz'oa straw fabric.

4- In a device of the class described, the combination of top and bottom members hinged together, said members each consisting of a frame having a flexible bottom and covered throughout with a closely-woven fabric of oryza said 0w straw.

5. In a device of the class described, having top and bottom members hinged together and oppositely beveled on their adjoining edges, each member being covered throughout with a closely-woven fabric of org 2a satiwa straw. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN JAMES SMITH.

Witnesses:

ELLIS SPEAR, Jr, GEORGE B. SEARs. 

